Heel-breasting machine



H. B. MUNSON.

HEEL BREASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I 1920.

Patented Ndv. 22, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

F4Z/e'/a 07 5520:2015

H. B. MUNSON.

HEEL BREASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1920.

1 ,397,897, Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

H. B. MUNSON.

HEEL BREASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1920.

1 ,39'7,897. Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- I66" J a a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD B. MUNSON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILDER AND COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

HEEL-BREASTING MACHINE.

Application filed June 1,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD B. MUNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Heel-Breasting Machines, of which the following isa specifica tion.

My invention relates to machines for trimming the front surfaces of heel blanks to cause the same to present the desired curved form; and my primary object is to provide a machine whereby t e operation referred to, and known as heel-breasting, may be performed on the heel blank disassociated from other parts of the shoe, whereby the length of time for re-heeling shoes, as now commonly required, and consequently the expense of such operations, shall be greatly reduced. It may be stated in this connection that it is now common practice in re-heeling shoes, for the shoemaker to form the heels from rough blanks, by hand, using a knife for this purpose, which requires a relatively great length of time and consequent expense, whereas it is my purpose to provide the shoemaker, with the heels out to substantially the ultimate form in which they are provided on shoes. Other of my objects will be apparent from the following:

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine embodying my improvements, certain of the parts of the machine being shown bv full lines in normal condition and by dotted lines in a position they occupy during the operation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cutter mechanism of the machine. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken through the heel-holder, the section being taken at the line 33 on Fig. 4 and viewed in 'the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a section taken atthe line 4-4 on Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows, with one-half of'the heel omitted. Fig. 5 is a section taken at the line 5-5 on Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a plate forming a part of the holder and upon which the heel blank rests in the operation of the machine; and Fig. 7, a perspective view of a heel produced by the machine.

' The particular construction of machine shown is formed of a frame 10 in the upper Specification of Letters Patent.

holding the heel blank Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

1920. Serial No. 385,895.

ends of which the cutter device for producing a breasting operation, is mounted; This cutting device as shown is formed of a shaft 11 journaled at its opposite ends in the frame and presenting between its ends the cutter element represented at 12 and shown as formed with a plurality of cutting edges 13, one end of this shaftcarrying a pulley 14 adapted to be driven,as through the medium of a belt 15 from a ulley 16 journaled in the lower end of the rame 10, the cutter 12, in accordance with common practice being driven preferably at a high rate of speed and in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1. The machine as shown'is provided with a shaft 17 mounted in bearings 18 on the frame, one only of which is shown, and adapted to be held therein by set screws 19, this shaft having a sleeve section 20 from which extends a lug 21 forming a stop surface for a purpose hereinafter described. The shaft 17 supports a bar 200 in which the shaft 11 is journaled, a set screw 201 holding this bar to the shaft, and the bar being removable by sliding it from the ends of the shafts 17 and 11.

The shaft 11 at opposite sides of the cutter element 12, and within the confines of the frame 10, carries cylindrical heads 22 with which the blank holder cooperates.

The machine'is provided with means for preferably, and as shown, trimmed substantially to the shape desired of the finished heel except at the portion thereof to be breasted and guiding the movement of the latter through a predetermined path while in engagement with the cutter to cause the blank to be breasted to the desired form, a description of theholder and its actuating mechanism shown being as follows: Pivotally supported between its ends as indicated at 23 to a bracket 24 extending laterally from the frame 10 is a' lever 25, the outer end of this lever being weighted as indicated at 25 and its opposite end being connected, as through the medium of the pivot 26, with the upper end of a link 27 the lower end of which is-pivot ally connected at 28 with one end of a lever 29 pivoted between its ends as indicated at 30 on an upright 31 rigidly supported in any desired way as from the floor on which the machine rests, the end of the lever 29 opposite that at which it is connected with the link 26, this lever forming a treadle, being wardly-extendin member provided. with a foot rest portion 32 at which the operator presses down on the treadle to rock the lever 25 and the parts carried thereby. The holder for the heel blank is formed of a base member 33 pivoted, as indicated at 34, to upright studs 35- rising from the lever 25 at its opposite sides, one only of these studs being shown, the base 33 at opposite sidesof the pivot 34 being formed with surfaces 36 and 37 adapted to alternately engage with the lever 25 at opposite sides of the pivot 34, limiting the rocking movements of the blank holder on the lever 25. The base 33 is provided with a block 38 connected therewith through the medium of a threaded stud 39 equipped with a lock nut 40, the construction just described permitting the block 38 to be adjusted up and down and locked in such adjusted position, the upper end of this block being adapted. to have a heel blank to be breasted and represented at 41 applied thereto and be clamped between this part and an adjustable clamping part hereinafter described. The upper portion of the block 38 is shown as formed of a plate 42 secured thereto as by the screw 43 and dowel 44, with a superposed plate 45 secured thereon as by the screws 45. The top surface of the plate 45 is preferably of such size and shape as to cause the heel blank to conformingly fit, throughout almost its entire extent the upper surface of the plate 45. In'this connection it may be stated that the heel blanks as commonly provided are of dished form at the portions thereof at which the heel is secured to the body of the shoe, and in positioning the blank 41 in the machine now being described, the blank is turned upside down to cause it to restat this dished portion on the block member 38 as stated.

Flanking the plate 45 are centering members 100 which partially encircle this plate as represented in Fig. 4 and are provided of such contour that a heel blank positioned therein asstated will substantially fit within the space bounded thereby as represented in Fig. 5, the members 100 being adjustable toward and away from each other on the plate 42, and as means for permitting of this adjustment and securing these members in ad justed pos1t1on, the latter are slotted as indicated at 101 through which screws represented at 102 and screwing into the plate 42, extend, each member 100 being provided with a pair of the slots which are arranged in parallel relation as shown to prevent turning of these members in the operation of adjusting them toward and away from each other.

The block 38 is provided with a for- 46 shown as formed of a ro nt to angle form and secured at its threaded dportion 47 in the block 38, with its upper en equipped with an adthereby forming stop means for justable contact. screw 48, the member referred to being adapted to cotiperate with the lug 21 in a manner hereinafter described, to limit the iupward movement of the holder when operated as hereinafter described.

Rising from the base 33 at opposite sides thereof are rods 49 preferably pivotally connected therewith as indicated at 50, one of these rods being provided with a rack portion 51. Slidably mounted upon the rods 49 is a member 52 containing guide-ways 53 therein at which it extends over the rods 49 and equipped with a gear 54 journaled thereon at 55 and meshlng with the rack 51.- Through the mechanism just described the member 52 is adapted to be raised and lowered on the rods 49 for a purpose hereinafter explained, and as a means for effecting this movement the gear 54 is provided with an .operating lever 56 equipped with a hand controlled spring-pawl device 57 cotiperating with a segmental rack 58 rigidly connected with, and laterally extending from, the member 52 which latter is preferably provided at its upper end with a handgrip 59. v I

The member 52 is provided with means for engaging the upper surface of the heel blank positioned on the block 38 as stated and in coiiperation with the latter clamp the blank firmly in position in the holder wherein the portion of the heel blank to be breasted opposes the cutter 12. The member 52 is provided with a section 60 located between the rearwardly-extending spacedapart plate portions 61 of the member 52, the section 60 extending at a reduced portion thereof represented at 62, into the space provided between the portions 61 of the member 52, as represented in Fig. 5, the lower portion of the member 62 forming the upper clamping member'for the heel blank and being preferably serrated along its under side as represented at 63. The upper portion of the member 60 is channeled as indicated at 64 and the bottom of this channel is grooved, to present a dovetail groove as indicated at 65 in which a plate 66 is guidingly' mounted, this plate having a depending angular shaped extension 67 adapted to form at its surface 68 a stop against which the rear portion of the heel blank extends and whereby the blank is readily accurately positioned in the holder. A threaded rod 69 extends through an opening (not shown) in the depending portion 67 and. screws into a threaded opening 70 in the portion 62 of the member 60, nuts 69 and 69" surrounding the rod 69 and located at opposite sides of the member 67 servingto permit the rod 69 to rotate in the portion 67, and compel the movement of the plate 66 with the rod 69 in the lengthwise movement of the latter.

The member 60 is secured to the member 52 through the medium of a pair of plates 71 located at opposite sides of the member 52, these plates being pivotally connected, with the member 52, between the upper and lower ends of these' plates, through the medium of screws 72 ahd pivotally connected at their upper ends, through the medium of screws 73, with the member 60, the lower ends of these plates containing slots 74 through which screws 75, screwing into the portions 61 of the member 52, extend. The plates 71 not only afford a means for connecting the member 60 with the member 52 but also serve as means, cooperating with the cylinders 22, to guide the blank holder in its movements to cause the latter to travel in a path of a shape corresponding to the shape 1t is desired that the forward portion of the heel, present, the forward edges of the plates 71 to this end being formed at their upper portions to present the surfaces 76 and below these surfaces the surfaces 77, such surfaces of only one of the plates 71 being shown, but both of the plates would be alike in shape, the surface 77 being that part of the plates 71 which contacts with the cylinders 22 during the time the cutter 12 is cutting the heel blank.

A description of the operation of the machine is as follows:

The normal position of the machine is that illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1, except that a heel blank is shown as clamped in the holder preparatory to operating the latter,

the curved line represented at 78 in Figs. 1 and 3 indicating the shape to which the portion of the heel blank at which it is to be breasted, is to be cut. In this position of the parts, the holder device bears at its stop surface 36 against the upper side of the lever 25 and one of the rods 49 bears against an adjustable stop device 79 carried by the base member 33. The operator then grasps the handle 59 by one hand and swings the holder on its pivot 34 to the left in Fig. l to a position in which' the surface 37 engages the upper side of the lever 25 and thereupon presses down on the outer end of the treadle 29 which rocks the lever 25 and the parts carried thereby on the pivot 23 to raise the holder device which engages at the surfaces 76 with the peripheries of the cylinders 22, the parts of the machine in one position of the operation now being described being that shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The operator then continues to press down on the treadle, at the same time bearing against the handle portion 59 to constantly force the holder to the left in Fig. 1, and as the holder rises, the movement of the surface 77 of the plates 71 against the cylinder 22 causes the heel blank to move in a path corresponding to these surfaces with the result of cutting the face of the blank presented to the cutter 12, to the shape indicated at 78, the upward lug 21.

movement of the holder, and consequently the length, in a vertical direction, of the cut produced by the cutter 12, being controlled by the engagement of the stop member 46 at its member 48, with the under side of the At the conclusion of the cut as stated, the operator releases pressure upon the treadle whereupon the lever 25 rocksin clockwise direction in Fig. 1 and, under the control of the operator, the holder assumes the position relative to the lever 25 shown by full lines in Fig. 1. He then disengages the pawl 57 from the rack 58 and swings the lever 56 upwardly to raise the member 52 and the parts carried thereby thus releasing the heel blank from the machine and permitting another, to be operated on,-to-be inserted, the clamping of the heel blank in position in the holder being effected by swinging the lever 56 downwardly in Fig. 1.

It is usual to make these heel blanks either wholly of superposed layers of leather, or partly of leather and partly of composition layers, secured together, as by nails, it being usual, regardless of the way in which the heel blanks are formed, or the material used, that the layer of the heel blank which is uppermost when the heel is secured to the body of the shoe, be of fairly flexible character. Furthermore it is desirable that the heel blanks as provided for use by cobblers in attaching to the bodies of shoes, be not cut down to a knife edge where they join to the body of the shoe but that the cutting reach short of the extreme edge of the blank in order to provide a surface to be trimmed. It is desirable, however, that the forward edge of the blank where it is uncut in the breasting operation, be of substantially uniform depth, and this I provide for in my improved machine, by forming the forward portion of the upper surface of the plate 45, with a recess 80 extending substantially throughout the width of this plate and curved as represented in Fig. 3, directly above which recess the forward edge of the heel blank extends as represented in Fig. 3, the extreme opposite edges of the heel blank resting on the un-r'ecessed marginal edges of the plate 45. It will be understood from the foregoing. that inasmuch as the cutter cuts downwardly, as it nears the end of its out, it will flex the lowermost portion of the heel blank in Fig. 3 downwardly in substan tially fiat condition, thereby causing the forward edge of this lowermost portion of the heel, considering it in inverted condition (Fig. 3), to be cut to substantially uniform thickness throughout its length, it being understood that this portion of the heel blank flexes to its original curved condition upon disengagement from the cutter.

.The stop device 46 in cooperating with the lug 21 serves to insure against contacting of the cutter with the plate 45.

The connection of the plates 71 with the members '52 as explained permits of the adjustment of these plates to different angular positions on the member 52 for varying the shape of that portion of the heel blank which is operated on in the breasting operation, it being understood that plates 71 of different forms may be provided and employed interchangeably for forming the heel to different shapes.

While I have illustrated and described a particular construction embodying my invention, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the same may be variously modified and altered withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a heel-breasting machine, the combinationof a cutter, a holder for a heel-blank to be breasted disassembled from the re mainder of a shoe and supported to be movable in a direction to move that portion of the heel-blank which is to be breasted, into contact with, and across, said cutter, and means for causing said holder, in said move ment, to travel in a predetermined path comprisin guide means adjustable to vary the shape of the breast of the heel in the direction of its height produced by the breasting operation.

2. In a heel-breasting machine, the combination of a cutter, a holder for a heel-blank to be breasted disassembled from the remainder of a shoe and supported to be movable in a direction to move that portion of the heel-blank which is to be breasted, into contact with, and across, said cutter, and means for causing said holder, in said movement, to travel in a predetermined path comprising guide means in the form of a plate presenting a guide surface and a member coacting with said guide surface, said plate and member being relatively movable, and said plate being adjustable to vary the shape of the breast of the heel in the direction of its height produced by the breasting operation.

3. A holder for a heel-blank disassociated from the remainder of the shoe, formed of members between which the heel-blank is adapted to be clam ed, the forward edge portion of the one 0 said members against which that portion of the heel-blank at which it bears against the body of the shoe when attached thereto, extends, being constructed and arranged to permit the heelblank to flex throughout its length except at its end portions, under the action of a cutting tool operating thereon.

4. A holder for a heel-blank disassociated from the remainder of the shoe, formed of members between which the heel-blank is adapted to be clamped, the forward edge portion of the one of said members against which that portion 'of the heel-blank at which it bears against the body of the shoe when attached thereto, extends, being so formed as to present at the forward edge of the heelblank, at the margins thereof, supports therefor, but to provide a space beneath the remaining portion of the front edge of the blank, to permit the latter to flex under the action of a cutting tool operating thereon.

5. A holder for a heel-blank disassociated from the remainder of the shoe, formed of members between which the heel-blank is adapted to be clamped, the forward edge portion of the one of said members against which that portion of the heel-blank at which it bears against the body of the shoe when attached thereto, extends, being recessed to provide a space beneath the for ward edge of the heel-blank permitting the latter to flex throughout its length except at its end portions, toward the recess under the action of a cutting tool; operating on i the blank.

6. Aholder for a heel-blank disassociated from the remainder of the shoe, formed of members between which the heel-blank is adapted to be clamped, the forward edge portion of the one of said members against which that portion of the heel-blank at which it bears against the body of the shoe when attached thereto, extends, being recessed to prevent a Hat surface spaced from the forward edge of the blank and into which, and against which said fiat surface, the heel-blank is flexed under the action of a cutting tool operating on the blank.

7 A holder for a heel-blank disassociated from the remainder of the shoe, formed of members between which the heel blank is adapted to be clamped, one of said members having means for holding the blank against displacement thereon and one of said members being provided with an adjustable stop adapted to be set in an adjusted position on said member and remain'insuch' position during successive clamping operations until readjusted and adapted to be contacted by the rear edge of the heel-blank at a portion thereof remote from the one of said members havin said means, to position the heelblank in t e holder.

8. A holder for a heel-blank disassociated from the remainder of the shoe, formed of members between which the heel-blank is adapted to be clamped, one of said members having means for holding the blank against displacement thereon, and the other of said members being provided with an adjustable stop adapted to be set in an adjusted position on said member and remain in such position during successive clamping operations until readjusted and adapted to be contacted by the rear edge of the heel-blank at the portion thereof remote from the one of said members having said means, to position the blank in the holder.

9. A holder for a heel-blank disassociated from the remainder of the shoe, formed of members between which the heel-blank is adapted to be clamped, one of said members having means for holding the blank against displacement thereon, and one of said members containing a channel, a bar slidable in said channel and provided with a portion adapted to be contacted by the rear edge of the blank at a portion thereof remote from the one of said members having said means, upon positioning the blank in the holder, a screw device having threaded engagement with the one of said members containing said channel, and means for causing said bar to move lengthwise in said channel upon rotating said screw device, said portion forming a stop device, and said screw device settin said portion in adjusted position which %atter remains set in such position during successive operations until readjustment.

10. A holder for a heel-blank disassociated from the remain'der of the shoe, formed of members between which the heel blank is adapted to be inserted and clamped, one of said members having means CEOI holding the blank againstdisplacement thereon, and a stop device on one ofsaid members positioned to enga e the rear surface of the blank at a portion thereof remote from the one of said members having said means and position the blank between said members, in the act .of introducing the blank between said members.

11. In a heel-breasting machine, the combination with its cutter, of a heel-blank holder adapted to support a heel-blank disassembled from the remainder of the shoe, means for effecting relative movement of said cutterand holder to produce the heelbreasting operation by cutting across the heel from the portion thereof which forms the bottom portion of the heel in the finished article, toward the portion thereof which bears against the body of the shoe when applied thereto, and a stop surface movable with said holder and adapted to engage a relatively stationary part of the machine to limit relative movement of said holder and cutter, to regulate the thickness of the lip remaining on the heel-blank after the heelbreasting o eration.

12. In a eel-breasting machine, the combination with'its cutter, of a heel-blank holder adapted to support a heel-blank disassembled from the remainder of the shoe, means for effecting relative movement of said cutter and holder to produce the heelbreasting operation by cutting across the heel from the portion thereof which forms the bottom portion of the heel in the finished article, toward the portion thereof which bears against the body of the shoe when applied thereto, and means for limiting the relative movement of said holder and cutter, to cause the lip remaining on the blank after the heel-breasting operation, to be of predetermined thickness.

13. In a heel-breasting machine, the combination with, its cutter, of a heel-blank holder adaptedto support a heel-blank disassembled from the remainder of the shoe. means for effecting relative movement of said cutter and holder to producethe heelbreasting operation by cutting across the heel from the portion thereof which forms the bottom portion of the heel in the finished article, toward the portion thereof which bears against the body of the shoe when applied thereto, and adjustable means for limiting the relative movement of said holder and cutter, to cause the lip remaining on the blank after the heel-breasting operation, to be of predetermined thickness.

14. In a heel-breasting machine, the combination with its cutter, of a heel-blank holder adapted to support a heel-blank, disassembled from the remainder of .the shoe, means whereby said holder is caused to move in a path for moving the surface of the heelblank tobe breasted across the cutter from that portion of the heel-blank which forms the bottom of the heel in the finished article, toward that portion which bears against the shoe when applied thereto for roducing the heel-breasting operation, and means for causing the movement of said holder to be arrested before said cutter cuts through the material of the heel blank at the end of the cut, to produce a lip on the heel-blank of a predetermined thickness.

15. In a heel-breasting-machine, the combination with its cutter, of a heel-blank holder adapted to support a heel-blank, disassembled from the remainder of the shoe, means whereby said holder is caused to move in a path for moving the surface of the heelblank to be breasted across the cutter from that portion of the heel-blank which forms the bottom of the heel in the finished article, toward that portion which bears z ainst the shoe when applied thereto forpro ucing the heel-breasting operation, and adjustable means for causing the movement of said holder to be arrested before said cutter cuts through the material of the heel blank at the end of the cut, to produce a lip on the heelblank of a )redetermined thickness.

16. A holder for a heel-blank disassociatcd from the remainder of the shoe with the portion of the heel blank at which it bears against the body of the shoe when attached thereto, being concavcd, formed of members between which the heel-blank is adapted to be clamped, and means for breasting the heel-blank to a point short of said concave surface and causing the unbreasted portion of the-heel-breast, adjacent said concaved surface to be of uniform thickness.

17 A holder for heel-blankdisassociated from the remainder of the shoe, formed of members between which. the heel-blank is adapted to be clamped, the forward edge portion of the one of said members against which that portion of the heel-blank at which it bears against the body of the shoe when attached thereto, extends, being so shaped as to cause the blank at the forward edge of said portion of the blank to be unsupported between its ends in the normal condition of the blank in a clamped condition.

18. A holder, for a heel-blank of a char- I 'convexed to conform generally to the con cavity of: said seat except at the portion thereof opposing the forward edge of the blank, which is so shaped as to cause the forward edge portion of the blank to be unsupported between its ends in the normal condition of the blank.

HOWARD B. MUNSON. 

